South African Census 1991
South Africa, 1991
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Reference ID
zaf-css-census-1991-v1.1
Producer(s)
Central Statistical Service (now Statistics South Africa)
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Metadata
Created on
Oct 22, 2012
Last modified
Jun 12, 2020
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66741
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Identification
Survey ID Number
zaf-css-census-1991-v1.1
Title
South African Census 1991
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| South Africa | zaf |
Study type
Population and Housing Census [hh/popcen]
Abstract
The 1991 South African population census was an enumeration of the population and housing in South Africa.The census collected data on dwellings and individuals' demographic, family and employment details.
Kind of Data
Census enumeration data
Unit of Analysis
Households and individuals
Version
Version Description
Version 1.1: Edited, anonymised dataset for public distribution.
Version Date
2011
Version Notes
Version 1.1 is the version downloaded from Statistics South Africa's website on the 28th of April, 2011. It differs from the version downloaded from SSA's website on the 20th of July 2007 (version 1). In the current dataset the South African EA data file and District data files have been merged into one data file.
The data file "SA Census 1991 PP_20110428_1.1" has been split into 5 files to reduce the size of the files to be downloaded. The new files are: "SA Census 1991 PP_PR1_20110428_v1.1", "SA Census 1991 PP_PR2_20110428_v1.1", "SA Census 1991 PP_PR3_20110428_v1.1", "SA Census 1991 PP_PR4_20110428_v1.1" and "SA Census 1991 PP_PR5to10_20110428_v1.1". Data users who wish to analyze this data at the national level should append the split files to create one dataset.
The data file "SA Census 1991 PP_20110428_1.1" has been split into 5 files to reduce the size of the files to be downloaded. The new files are: "SA Census 1991 PP_PR1_20110428_v1.1", "SA Census 1991 PP_PR2_20110428_v1.1", "SA Census 1991 PP_PR3_20110428_v1.1", "SA Census 1991 PP_PR4_20110428_v1.1" and "SA Census 1991 PP_PR5to10_20110428_v1.1". Data users who wish to analyze this data at the national level should append the split files to create one dataset.
Scope
Notes
The scope of the South African census 1991 includes the following themes:
Households: dwelling type, ownership type, type of area (rural/urban)
Individuals: relationship within household, sex, age, marital status, population group, birthplace, citizenship, duration of residency, religion, education level, language, literacy,employment status, occupation, economic sector and income.
Households: dwelling type, ownership type, type of area (rural/urban)
Individuals: relationship within household, sex, age, marital status, population group, birthplace, citizenship, duration of residency, religion, education level, language, literacy,employment status, occupation, economic sector and income.
Topics
| Topic | Vocabulary | URI |
|---|---|---|
| housing [10.1] | CESSDA | Link |
| family life and marriage [12.5] | CESSDA | Link |
| gender and gender roles [12.6] | CESSDA | Link |
| censuses [14.1] | CESSDA | Link |
| migration [14.3] | CESSDA | Link |
| religion and values [13.5] | CESSDA | Link |
| employment [3.1] | CESSDA | Link |
| unemployment [3.5] | CESSDA | Link |
| EDUCATION [6] | CESSDA | Link |
| income, property and investment/saving [1.5] | CESSDA | Link |
Keywords
| Keyword |
|---|
| housing |
| family life and marriage |
| gender and gender roles |
| censuses |
| migration |
| religion and values |
| employment |
| unemployment |
| Education |
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
The South African Census 1991 covered the whole of South Africa. The "homelands" of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei were enumerated separately and the dataset contains data files for Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. The dataset does not include a data file for the Transkei as this was never provided by Statistics South Africa.
Geographic Unit
The lowest geographic level in the population census 1991 is enumerator area.
Universe
The 1991 Population Census was enumerated on a de facto basis, that is, according to the place where persons were located during the census. All persons who were present on Republic of South African territory during census night (i.e. at midnight between 7 and 8 March 1991) were therefore enumerated and included in the data. Visitors from abroad who were present in the RSA on holiday or business on the night of the census, as well as foreigners (and their families) who were studying or economically active, were enumerated and included in the figures. The Diplomatic and Consular Corps of foreign countries were not included. Crews and passengers of ships were also not enumerated, except those who were present at the harbours of the RSA on census night. Similarly, residents of the RSA who were absent from the night were not enumerated. Personnel of the South African Government stationed abroad and their families were, however enumerated. Such persons were included in the Transvaal (Pretoria).
Producers and sponsors
Primary investigators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Central Statistical Service (now Statistics South Africa) | Government of South Africa |
Sampling
Deviations from the Sample Design
As a result of the unplanned and unstructured nature of certain residential areas, as well as the inaccessibility of certain areas during the preparations for the enumeration of census, comprehensive door-to-door surveys were not possible. The Human Sciences Research Council had to enumerate these areas by means of sample surveys. 88 areas country-wide were enumerated on this basis.
Data Collection
Dates of Data Collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 1991-03-07 | 1991-03-08 |
Data Collection Mode
Face-to-face [f2f]
Data Collectors
| Name | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Statistics South Africa | SSA |
Questionnaires
Questionnaires
The 1991 Population Census questionnaire covered particulars of households: dwelling type, ownership type, type of area (rural/urban) and particulars of individuals: relationship within household, sex, age, marital status, population group, birthplace, citizenship, duration of residency, religion, education level, language, literacy,employment status, occupation, economic sector and income.
Access policy
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DataFirst Helpdesk | University of Cape Town | support@data1st.org | Link |
Access conditions
Public use files, available to all
Citation requirements
Central Statistical Service. Population Census 1991 [dataset]. Version 1.1. Pretoria: Central Statistical Service (now Statistics South Africa) [producer], 2004. Cape Town: DataFirst [distributor], 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25828/hsh2-9x72
Access authority
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DataFirst | University of Cape Town | info@data1st.org | Link |
Disclaimer and copyrights
Disclaimer
The information products and services of Statistics South Africa are protected in terms of the Copyright Act, 1978 (Act 98 of 1978). As the State President is the holder of State copyright, all organs of State enjoy unhindered use of the Department's information products and services, without a need for further permission to copy in terms of that copyright. Where a copy of the information is made available to any third party outside the State, the third party must be made aware of the existence of State copyright and ownership of the information by the State. The State (through Statistics SA) retains the full ownership of its information, products and services at all times; access to information does not give ownership of the information to the client. The use of any data is subject to acknowledgement of Stats SA as the supplier and owner of copyright. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) will not be liable for any damages or losses, except to the extent that such losses or damages are attributable to a breach by Stats SA of its obligations in terms of an existing agreement or to the negligence or wilful act or omissions of the Stats SA, its servants or agents, arising out of the supply of data and or digital products in terms of that agreement. The user indemnifies Stats SA against any claims of whatsoever nature (including legal costs) by third parties arising from the reformatting, restructuring, reprocessing and/or addition of the data, by the user.
Copyright
Copyright, Statistics South Africa
Metadata production
DDI Document ID
ddi-zaf-datafirst-census-1991-v3
Producers
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| DataFirst | University of Cape Town | Metadata Producer |
Date of Metadata Production
2020-06-12
DDI Document version
Version 5